can anyone help with this please.

[kathi]

hi ,been hypo for about 20 years and on levo. been feeling really unwell lately ,doc did bloodtest and increased levo from 100 to 150 mg that was about 2 wks ago. feeling no better also put on lots of extra weight .stopped smoking last oct.but have lately used electronic ciggs could that have anything to do with it.

Last 2 Serum Free T4 Levels:

13.02.2013 - 8.5 pmol/L (9-19)

09.07.2012 - 18.8 pmol/L (9-19)

Last 2 Serum Tsh Levels:

13.02.2013 - 43.2 mu/L (0.4-4.9)

09.07.2012 - 0.13mu/L (0.4-4.9)

[shaws Administrator]

No wonder you are feeling so bad with a TSH of 43.2. I would ask to be referred to an Endocrinologist and if you email [e-mail] she may have one near you.

[kathi in reply to shaws]

tyvm for your reply i am waiting for a referrel to see an endo.

[RedApple Administrator]

Kathi, your test results indicate that you are currently very hypothyroid. If you've only been on the increased dose for a couple of weeks, then it's probably too soon yet to tell if another increase will be needed to get you to where you need to be.

Out if interest, when and how do you take your thyroid medication, and do you take any other prescription medications, or supplements that you buy yourself?

[kathi]

tyvm for your reply.i have always taken my thyroxine in the morning on waking but changed to taking it at night about 2 wks ago hoping itwould help

[RedApple Administrator in reply to kathi]

Let's hope it does help, although you have a long way to go yet so early days. By the way, we would appreciate it if you did not use the abbreviated 'text speak' when posting on the forum

[kathi]

forgot to say not on any other med or supplements

[Heloise]

In a mere five months, from September to February, you went from a decent TSH and T4 to an astounding TSH? I would think that would call for more investigation than just raising your T4. Is menopause a factor? I don't know about the electric cigarette but ceasing to smoke might, did you GP talk about that at all?

[kathi in reply to Heloise]

hi heloise,

i did not mention the stopping smoking did not see my own gp.i dont think it would be menopause im 64 now.but i have been having porridge made with soyamilk for breakfast and lots of stawberrys with yoghourt did not know that could interfere with absorbtion until i read about it on here .do you think that could have something to do with it

[Heloise]

Hmmm, this is my experience: I've been on Armour, just one grain per day. I'm also in my sixties and have a lot of muscle pain but I can play golf. On the mornings I had eaten soy, I have collapsed on the golf course. First I become dizzy and then terrible pain between my shoulder blades and then nausea so I do have notice when something is going wrong. I WILL say that there was also the heat and exertion as well but I did stop having anything soy and no longer get to that point. In my case, it was soy flour, I don't drink soy milk.

[kathi in reply to Heloise]

hope it wont take to long to get the appointment to see an endo,never seen one in 20 years and hope he can get to the bottem of this ,just feel so poorly. sorry if spelling is a bid weird as english is not my first language

[Heloise in reply to kathi]

I can tell what you are say I think I would stop the soy milk for now and how about cabbage? Raw vegetables in the cabbage family also seem to block thyroid. Almonds, too, I just found out.

[kathi in reply to Heloise]

i have stopped using soya milk stawberries and coffee dont really eat raw veg. have not eaten almonds for ages but eat cashewnuts sometimes.it would be helpful if doctors would tell you this .ty for all your help heloise x

[Heloise in reply to kathi]

You are welcome, kathi. There are some excellent websites if you have time on the computer.

thyroid-rt3.com/backgrou.htm

Google Dr. Lowe and Dr. Peat, they have many good articles online.

[kathi in reply to Heloise]

thans for that ,will do that. x

[Hidden]

Kathi, I don't think there is any proof yet that smoking 'masks' under active thyroid gland or that stopping causes it.

However lots of people have found they felt terrible after a few months of not smoking and it was discovered they were hypothyroid.

Look in Tags on here there is more information. There have been some Studies.

I am convinced there is a connection my TSH increased when I finally stopped smoking. instead of feeling great without smoking I felt very ill after a couple of months so it was not withdrawal.

I tried one of those electronic cigarettes when I was feeling miserable and negative. I felt very agitated sick and non specifically yeuk! Will not try again. I chew gum on occasions when I feel the need for a cigarette.

Am certain when your health improves with the increase in Levothyroxine and good advice you won't want them either. Hope all improves very soon. wyn

[kathi in reply to Hidden]

thanks for your reply it helps to know im not the only one to feel like this.I will stop using the electronic cigarette and try using gum kathi x

[kathi in reply to Hidden]

thanks for your reply it helps to know im not the only one to feel like this.I will stop using the electronic cigarette and try using gum kathi x